title: Use of bone morphogenic protein-7 as a treatment for osteoarthritis.
abstract: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disorder resulting from breakdown of articular cartilage. Previous work has shown bone morphogenic protein-7 has a potential protective effect on cartilage during the development of osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether bone morphogenic protein-7 could decrease the amount of cartilage degradation in preexisting osteoarthritis. The rabbit ACLT model was used as a model of osteoarthritis. Bone morphogenic protein-7 was delivered via Alzet osmotic pump to the joint 4 weeks after anterior cruciate ligament transection; thus cartilage injury was preexisting. The experimental group showed less cartilage degradation than the controls, with an average Outerbridge score of 1.9 versus 2.6 for the controls. Histomorphometry showed a trend toward less cartilage degradation in the bone morphogenic protein-7 group when compared with controls. Semiquantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed a considerably greater expression of aggrecan in the bone morphogenic protein-7-treated cartilage when compared with controls and less expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 and matrix metalloproteinase-13, important catabolic mediators. The synovial tissue of the experimental group also showed considerably less expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3, matrix metalloproteinase-13, and aggrecanase. These results indicate bone morphogenic protein-7 may reduce degradation of articular cartilage in osteoarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, Mail Code 0630, La Jolla, CA 92093-0630, USA.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Badlani
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oshima
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Healey
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coutts
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amiel
mesh_terms: D053674:Aggrecans / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 / Q000235:genetics; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000235:genetics; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D053674:Aggrecans; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3